Joe Sheehan
A bill that would ensure a sum-sufficient special education reimbursement rate of 42% in the 2025-26 school year, and 45% for 2026-27 has been introduced in the assembly by Sheboygan Representative Joe Sheehan. This comes amid projections of nearly a million-and-a-half dollar loss to the SASD if not passed.
The most recently-passed state budget only allocates 35% reimbursement for the costs of school districts to administer the special ed programs this school year, despite the higher estimated costs cited in Sheehan’s bill.
Sheehan noted that Wisconsin’s school systems had already budgeted using the higher estimates, and are also mandated to cover all costs not covered by the state. Under the current budget, this would result in a $1.47 million shortfall for the Sheboygan Area School District. Sheehan said that districts would have little choice but to cut other budget items in order to meet the mandates if corrections were not made.
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